Snap switch



D. N. THOMPSON SNAP SWITCH Filed May 14, 1921 2 sh ee1a5sheet 1 INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS Mar. 27, 1923. Y 1,449,634

' D. N. THOMPSON SNAP SWITCH Filed May 14, 1921 .2 sheets-sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

2 A TTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 27, 1923.

] UITED s'rrss DON N. THOMPSON, OF SYRACUSE, -NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 'TO PASS &SEY1VIOUR *INGZ, OF SOLVAY, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SNAP SWITCH;

Application filed May 14,

T 0 all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, DON N. THOMPSON, a citizen ofthe United States, and a resident of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Snap Switch, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric switches and has for its object a switch arm or memher and also a snap switch, which mechanism is particularly simple in construction, economical of manufacture and highly efficient and durable in use. The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the drawings.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a switch embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detailview illustrating the operation or throwing of this switch.

Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 are'diagrammatic views illustrating my switch as adapted to single pole, double pole and three and four way switches.

I have here illustrated this switch as embodied in a flush wall switch, and l designates the body or base of the switch which is formed of suitable insulating material and which is here shown as in the form of a box in which the switch mechanism is contained.

The switch arm which is equally adaptable for single or double pole switches and three or four way switches comprises generally, a movable body or plate of insulation which moves between contacts or bladeslapping opposite sides of the plate, and a conductor extending through the plate and having terminals exposed on opposite sides of the plate in position'to engage the contacts and electrically connect them. When the terminals are disengaged from the contacts, the plate separates and insulates-the contacts.

The switch mechanism comprises a switch arm shiftable about an axis and actuating means therefor comprising a rocking mem- 1921. Serial No. 469,584.

throwt he same and a s rin acting to thrust one of said members 'to ward the other to cause the fulcrum to shift along the inclined plane face and rock the cam about its axis tov throw the switch. 6

2 designates the switch arm here shown asmounted onthe bottom of the recess of the base 1 movable about an axis and. having terminals 3 exposed on opposite faces for engaging contacts 4, 5 suitably carried within the base 1, these contacts having port1ons extending in parallel planesand other portions extending from near the bottom of' the recess of the base upwardly and bein provided with binding devices 6, 7.

In the illustrated form of the invention, the arm 2 is a plate .as a disk of insulation movable about an axis and the terminals 3 are connected by a conductor 3 extending through the disk; and the contacts 5 extend over the disk, whilethe contacts 4 extend below the disk, I In other words, each contact 4 laps the opposite contact5 and the disk passes between and insulates them from each other. When the switch is on the terminals 3 engage and electrically connect the contacts '4, 5 and when the switch is off the terminals pass from between the contacts 4, 5 and the-contacts 4, 5 are separated by the disk. The terminals 3 and conductor L) are here shown as in the form of a hollow rivet of which the conductor is the tubular body and the terminals are the heads." The switch armor plate here illustrated is provided with two pairs of terminals located diametrically opposite each other. p a y As shown diagrammatically in Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8, this switch arm. is adapted without change, that is, it is universal to single pole (Fig. 5) double pole (Fig. 6), three way (Fig. 7) and four way 8) switch.

In the three way switch it is necessary to change the line wire contac-t'4aso that it has two arms arranged at a right angle to each other and one of the contacts 5 so that it has an arm 5 arranged to engage the switch arm terminal paired with the terminal which engages the arm 4 of the contact 4*. In the four way switch, all the contacts and are provided with two arms 4&0", 40 50", 50, Fig. 8, arranged at an angle as in the contact at, Fig. 7. The arm 5 of the contact a, Fig, 7 is unnecessary, but for economy in manufacture but two forms of contacts are made for the switches shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, the straight contacts, and the angular contacts.

8 designates the cam member of the switch mechanism movable about an axis and connected to the switch arm 2 to throw the same, and 9 is the rocking actuator or lever coacting with the cam 8 to rock it about its axis with a snap action, the cam having a fulcrum 1O eccentric to its axis and the lever member having an inclined plane face 11 coacting with the fulcrum.

One of these members is thrust toward the other by a spring and as here illustrated the cam 8 is shiftable axially against the action of a spring which spring forces the cam against the lever and causes the fulcrum to slide along the inclined plane face 11 when the angle of the lever is changed or reversed, the cam moving about its axis as the fulcrum shifts and thus imparting a snap or quick break action to the switch arm 2. I

As here shown, the cam 8 is arranged coaxially with the arm or disk 2 and is provided with a stem 12 extending through the disk 2 and suitably connected thereto to transmit rotary movement to the disk. The stem, in the illustrated form of my switch is provided with a non-circular or square piece 13 stamped from sheet metal and fitting into a complementally shaped opening 14 in the disk, the stem being slidable axially in the squared piece 13.

15 is the spring which is here shown as coiled about the stem 12 and thrusting at one end against the squared piece 13 and at its upper end upwardly against the cam 8 or a suitable head or washer 16 interposed between the spring and the cam.

The squared piece 13 thrusts against a suitable head 17 provided on a tubular guide 18 for the stem and arranged in an opening 19 in the bottom of the base 1. A pin 20 extending transversely through the stem below the square piece 13 prevents undue upward displacement of the cam 8. The cam is also provided with an axle 21 extending through the s itable opening in the lever 9.

The cam 8 and its stem and axle are stamped from sheet metal and the cam itself is arranged edgewise relatively to the lever 9; and a suitable washer 22 is interposed between the inclined face 11 and the upper edge of the cam 8 and the fulcrum 1O thereon.

The lever 9 is initially actuated in any suitable manner, and as here shown, it is operated by push buttons 23, 24 having stems 25, 26 coacting with opposite ends of the lever 9, these stems being preferably provided with perforations 27, 2&5, for receiving the ends of the lever 9.

'lhe push buttons are guided in suitable openings 2%), 30 provided in a supporting strip 51 secured to the base and having laterally extending lugs 32 by means of which the base is secured to a wall with a face plate not shown, flush with the wall. The face plate is secured to the strip 31 by screws extending through openings in the strip.

The strip 31 is here shown as secured to the base by screws 34 extending through openings therein and threading into metal pieces resting on ledges 36 in the base 1 and secured in position by screws 37 extending through the base from the rear side thereof and threading into the pieces 35. Said pieces project into the recess of the base and are formed with guide openings 39, to for the stems 25 and 26 respectively of the push buttons and also with stop shoulders 35 coacting with the cam 8 to stop it in its extreme positions, and hence stop the switch member 2 at the proper points.

In operation, assuming that the switch is off in Fig. 2, upon depressing of the push button at the lever 9 is tilted about the fulcrum point 10 of the cam 8 and also the cam 8 is pressed downwardly against the action of the spring 15.

When the lever reaches a certain angle as shown in Fig. at, the incline of its plane face is such that the spring exerting an upward pressure causes the fulcrum to slide up the incline face 11 and in so doing imparts a rotary snap action to the cam 8 and its stem 12 which movement is transferred to the switch arm or disk 2, the cam now assuming a position reverse to that shown in Fig. 2.

This movement also depresses the push button 24- and elevates the push button 28. To turnthe switch off, the reverse of this operation takes place by depressing the push button 23.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. In a snap switch, a rotary switch arm, and means for actuating the switch arm comprising a rotary cam member having a fulcrum point eccentric to its axis, a rock ing lever member having a reversible inclined plane face coacting with the fulcrum of the cam. and means for tilting the lever to change the direction of incline of its cam face. and a spring tending to thrust one of said members toward the other member and hence move the cam along the inclined plane face and shift the cam about its axis to throw the switch arm; substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A switch mechanism comprising a switch arm shiftable about an axis. and actuating mechanism for the arm comprising a rocking lever having an inclined plane face,

and a cam movable about an axis at an angle to the axis of the lever and having a fulcrum for the lever eccentric to its own axis and bearing on the inclined plane face of the lever, and a spring acting to thrust the cam against said face of the lever whereby the cam shifts about its axis and moves the fulcrum point of the lever when the lever is tilted and hence shifts the switch arm, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. A switch mechanism comprising a switch arm shiftable about an axis, and actuating mechanism for the arm comprising a rocking lever having an inclined plane face, a cam movable about an axis at an angle to the axis of the lever and having a fulcrum for the lever eccentric to its own axis and bearing on the said face of the lever, the cam being shiftable lengthwise of its axis, and a spring thrusting the cam against the inclined face, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. A switch mechanism comprising a switch arm shiftable about an axis, and actuating mechanism for the arm comprising a rocking lever having an inclined plane face, a cam movable about an axis at an angle to the axis of the lever and having a fulcrum for the lever eccentric to its own axis and bearing on such face of the lever, the cam having an axial stem and a spring encircling the stem and thrusting against the cam to press the fulcrum against the inclined face of the lever, substantially as and for the purpose described.

-5. A switch mechanism comprising a switch arm shiftable about an axis, and actuating mechanism therefor comprising a cam movable about an axis and connected to the switch arm to transmit such movement thereto and being also shiftable axially and having a fulcrum eccentric to its axis, a lever having an inclined plane face between its ends engaging such fulcrum, and a spring arranged to thrust the cam axially and shift the same along said inclined face to rock the cam about its axis, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. A switch mechanism comprising a switch arm shiftable about an axis, and actuating mechanism therefor comprising a cam movable about an axis and connected to the switch arm to transmit such movement thereto and being also shiftable axially and having a fulcrum eccentric to its axis, a lever having an inclined plane face between its ends engaging such fulcrum, a spring arranged to thrust the cam axially against the inclined face and move the cam about its axis and push buttons coacting with opposite ends of the lever, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

'7. A switch mechanism comprising a switch arm shiftable about an axis and actuating mechanism therefor comprising a cam movable about an axis and con nected to the switch arm to transmit such movement thereto and being also shiftable axially and having a fulcrum eccentric to its axis, a lever having an inclined plane face between its ends engaging such fulcrum, a spring arranged to thrust the cam axially against the inclined face and move the cam about its axis, and push buttons coacting with opposite ends of the lever, substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. A switch mechanism comprisin a switch arm shiftable about an axis, an actuating mechanism therefor comprising a cam movable about an axis and connected to the switch arm to transmit such movement thereto and being also shiftable axially and having a fulcrum eccentric to its axis, a lever having an inclined plane face between its ends engaging such fulcrum, the lever having an opening therethro-ugh and the cam having an axle extending through the opening, a spring acting on the cam to shift it along said face, and push buttons coacting with opposite ends of the lever, Isublstantially as and for the purpose speci- 16C.

9. A switch mechanism comprising a switch arm shiftable about an axis, and actuating mechanism therefor comprising a cam movable about an axis and having a coaxial stem connected to the arm to transmit such movement thereto, the cam being also shiftable axially and also having a fulcrum eccentric to its axis and an axle on the same side thereof that the fulcrum is located, a rocking lever having an opening for the axle and also engaging the fulcrum, and having an inclined plane face along which the fulcrum slides when the lever is tilted, and a spring thrusting the cam axially toward the lever and rocking the cam about its axis along said face, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. A switch mechanism comprising a switch arm shiftable about an axis, and actuating mechanism therefor comprising a cam movable about the axis of the switch arm and connected to the switch arm to transmit such movement thereto, and having a fulcrum eccentric to its axis, a lever having a plane face between its ends engaging such fulcrum, a spring acting to shift the cam about its axis in either direction along said face, and means for actuating the lever,

substantially as and for the purpose described.

11. A switch mechanism comprising a switch arm movable about an axis, and actuating mechanism therefor comprising a cam movable about an axis and having a stem arranged coaxially with the switch arm and connected thereto to transmit such movement of the cam to the switch arm, the cam and stem being also shiftable axially &

of the switch arm the cam having a fulcrum eccentric to its axis, a rocking lever having an inclined plane face between its ends engaging the fulcrum, a spring encircling the stem and thrusting against the ca m and pressing the same against the inclined faces of the lever, and means for actuating the lever, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto 10 signed my name, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, and State of New York, this 6th clay at May, 1921.

DON N. THOMPSON. 

